Assign a number to each document and write this number in the Doc. No. field on your Ascent and Documentation Form. This Document Number need not be in order by date.

Documents may be used more than once. The number you assign to this document will then appear each time it is referenced in the Doc. No. space.

Use a three letter abbreviation for the month: JAN FEB MAR etc.

Write the year in full: 1780, 1880, 1980, 2000.

Always write a woman’s maiden name in the "Mother" fields.

Some lines may be left blank. You need not provide a document for every space, just be sure the relationship is adequately established between generations. For example: If you descend from a soldier through his male line, you would not necessarily need to obtain documents for the death of each wife down the line. However, her obituary or death certificate might valuable clues needed in other areas of your research, and may in fact be just the document that provides sufficient proof toward a Certificate in this program.

You may substitute other sources for official certificates. See the Acceptable Document web page for suggestions.

Remember: For living persons we only require adequate documentation of the parent-child relationship. Birthdates, including the year, are not necessary in order to protect the privacy of living persons. See Acceptable Documents (No. 2) for further guidelines.

The Ascent and Documentation sheet is divided into three sections. The first is for the applicant’s documentation. This is followed by a series of “generic paragraphs,” one for each generation back to the soldier. If you descend directly from a soldier, his name and information will be the last “generic paragraph” you fill in, keeping the order. The third section at the bottom of page two is used for soldier information when the applicant descends from the soldier’s sibling. Extra “generic paragraphs,” may be duplicated from one of the Ascent pages and adapted to suit your needs. Women applicants who elect to share marriage information may use their maiden name in the space provided. Women who are not providing documentation of their marriage may use any combination of maiden or married name as long as a clear relationship to the parents is documented.